University Gives Climate Scientist Gag Order for Disagreeing

A professor at an Australian university launched a GoFundMe page Wednesday, alleging that university officials did not act in good faith and infringed on his academic freedom by censuring him for comments he made on a national television program.

James Cook University professor Peter Ridd, a marine scientist, had appeared on Sky News in August to discuss his book on climate change. During the interview, he criticized prevailing methodology and expressed concerns about the vetting process of scientific research.

Ridd, who had been censured in 2016 after fact-checking global warming claims, told Sky News that he believed many of the scientists in the field believed in their research but had lost objectivity because they had become “emotionally attached to their subject.”

Following these comments, James Cook University issued a final censure against Ridd and a gag order. Ridd responded this week by announcing he is taking the matter to federal court. He launched a GoFundMe page to help him cover the legal costs the matter will entail.

“These conditions, particularly their instruction to remain silent, is unacceptable. It flies in the face of my instinct for truth and honesty, and my academic freedom,” Ridd wrote. “My lawyers are confident. However, even if we win and are awarded partial costs I will still face substantial financial burden for the case. I have put aside $24,000 of my own money for the case, however, this will not be enough. I do not expect a cent back. The money I am asking for is to fund the rest of action.”

Ridd continued: “We must use this case to support the principle that academics are free to speak their mind within their field of expertise without fear or favour.”

It appears that many people are taking the threat to academic freedom seriously. Ridd had accrued more than $25,000 in the first 24 hours of his campaign.

About The Editor

Originally from Canton, Michigan, Hank Eckardt graduated from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in Political Science and Spanish. He then moved to Washington, D.C. to work for Congressman Kerry Bentivolio in 2014. After working in political fundraising for 3 years, he began as editor-in-chief of TheLead.com in June 2017.